Highly secure optical key access control system

ABSTRACT

Highly secure optical key access control system utilizing unique optical refraction properties of non-duplicated transparent objects to secure premises or computer databases is disclosed. 
     Said access control system includes optical key containing an optical element with unique refraction properties and unique access module comprising source of light, image capture array and electronic processor. An optical element of optical key is inserted to access module between light source and image catching array at initial and then several following prearranged positions and resulting set of unique refraction image appeared at surface of image catching array processed with electronic processor for comparison against the existing database of preauthorized refraction images in database. If resulting set of unique refraction image match with some set of preauthorized refraction images the access to premises or computer databases is permitted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of highly secure accesscontrol systems, and more particularly, methods and apparatus utilizingunique optical refraction properties of non-duplicated transparentobjects to secure premises and computer databases.

2. Discussion of the State of the Art

Existing access control systems based at traditional hardware based keyhave such properties that make it possible one way or another to copy ormimic the key and such way permit unauthorized access to controlledpremises or computer databases.

Existing access control system are based at computer software arevulnerable to hackers with sufficient knowledge of computer systems andsocial engineering.

Existing electro-optical and magnetic card access control systems areeasy to operate and cost effective, possess some level of security buthave the same shortcomings—if one with sufficient knowledge get the keyor card, it is possible to study distinctive properties of theparticular key or card and then copy it or mimic it at sense of key-locksystem.

So, most of the shortcomings of existing access systems are related tothe ease of duplication or mimic distinctive properties of keys or cardswhich provide access and the less information potential forger can getabout lock-key system having particular key or card at hand, the moresecure system at whole.

Example of optical access system is patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,431Aissued to Raymond J.Rhine published Feb. 1, 1994. At this patent anaccess security system employs a non-duplicatable key made from anoptically transmissive material having gradient refractive index anddiffusive properties which provide the material with a non-duplicatablequality. While being functional for its intended purpose this systemlooks vulnerable to mimic the key at sense of key-lock system.

Example of prismatic lock and key security is patent U.S. Pat. No.9,274,508B2 issued for William R. Duffy, Ill, Phillip D. Jones Michael,K. Trivette David, T. Windell published Mar. 1, 2016. At this patentdescribed methods and apparatus for lock and key security, the lockincluding a light receptacle, a scatter pattern detecting module, and alocking mechanism, the key including a light source and a prism, thelock and key security including receiving, in the light receptacle ofthe lock, light transmitted by the light source in the key through theprism; identifying, by the scatter pattern detecting module, a scatterpattern of the received light; comparing, by the scatter patterndetecting module, the scatter pattern to a unique preauthorized patternfor operating the lock; if the scatter pattern matches the uniquepreauthorized pattern, switching, by the scatter pattern detectingmodule, the current locking state of the locking mechanism; and if thescatter pattern does not match the unique preauthorized pattern,maintaining the current locking state of the locking mechanism. Theshortcoming of this system is a key, this system utilize the optical keywere the optical prism and source of light beam all placed inside theoptical key at fixed position and in spite of it is extremely difficultto copy optical properties of prism with shattered glass but potentialforger having particular optical key at hand and having sufficientknowledge can one way or another mimic or copy not the prism butauthorized scatter pattern to deceive scatter pattern detecting moduleof the lock and so to get unauthorized access to premises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of present invention highly secure optical key accesscontrol system is provided, including such apparatus as optical key withunique optical element and unique access module including source oflight, image catching array, means of positioning optical key insideaccess module and electronic processor.

The said access control system based on the recognizing with uniqueaccess module the optical element with unique refractive properties usedas a key by directing light beam from source of light through medium andoptical element from several different directions, catching resultingset of unique refraction pictures with image catching array placed atsome distance from optical element at direction of refracted light beam,processing resulting set of unique refraction pictures with electronicprocessor for comparison against the existing database of preauthorizedsets of refraction pictures in database to permit or refuse access toprotected premises or protected computer database.

Also in further of embodiment of invention access module is provided,comprising means of adjustment initial fixed position of source of lightand image catching array relatively to start position of optical elementof optical key inserted to access module and such way making each accessmodule unique one at sense of lock-key system.

An advantage of the present invention at sense of level of security is :the light beam from source of light directed through the optical elementfrom several different directions and so not one unique refractionpicture but sets of unique refraction pictures should match withpreauthorized ones.

Another advantage of the present invention at sense of level of securityis: an source of light is located inside access module and its initialposition and direction of light beam relatively to the optical elementof optical key inserted to access module is unique and cannot becalculated by potential forger and so for potential forger to haveoptical key at hand is not enough to correctly figure out desired setsof preauthorized refraction pictures because initial position of opticalelement relative to position of light source and direction of light beaminside access module is unknown for potential forger.

DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWES OF DRAWINGS

FIG.1 depicts the schematic diagram illustrating the method of highlysecure optical key access control system according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG.2 depicts the example of an optical key containing an opticalelement with unique refractive properties, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG.3 depicts the example of access module according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventor provides highly secure access control system, and moreparticularly, methods and apparatus utilizing unique optical propertiesof non-duplicated transparent objects to secure premises and computerdatabases. Optical Key and access module as the terms is used it thisspecification refers to the apparatus where user can get access tosecure premises or computer databases using optical key as a key andaccess module as a lock.

The present invention described in enabled detail in the followingexamples, which may represent more than one of embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG.1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of highly secureoptical key access control system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

In this example Access control system comprising optical key 1 withoptical element 3 and access module 2 comprising light source 4, means 5and 6 of positioning optical key inside access module, image capturearray 8, means 7 for initial adjustment of fixed position of lightsource and image catching array relative to initial position of opticalelement of optical key inserted to access module, electronic processor 9and access actuator 10 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

To start the process of recognizing optical key user of said accesscontrol system insert optical key to access module 2 at initial positionand then turn or move optical key to put unique optical element 3 ofoptical key 1 to several following prearranged positions relative tolight beam 11 of light source 4 and image catching array 8 to produceset of unique refraction pictures 12 at surface of image catching array.Because of highly different refraction pattern of light beam 11 emittedwith light source 4 going through medium and unique optical element 3 ofoptical key 1 depending on relative positions of said optical elementand said light beam and image catching array the set of refractionpictures 11 displayed at surface of image catching array 8 possessesunique light and shape properties and thereby can be used forrecognizing particular optical key at the sense of key-lock system. Todo so resulting set of unique refraction pictures are processed withelectronic processor 10 for comparison against the existing database ofpreauthorized sets of refraction pictures in database to permit orrefuse access to protected premises or protected computer database. Ifresulting set of unique refraction pictures match with one ofpreauthorized set the electronic processor permit access to securedpremises and computer databases with access actuator 10.

To farther improve level of security access module has means ofadjustment for changing initial fixed position of light source insideaccess module. At exemplary access module it realized as swing frame 7with connected on it light source 4 and image catching array 8. It makespossible to change initial fixed position and direction of light beamrelative to inserted to access module unique optical element 3 ofoptical key 1 for particular access module and so each access module canbe considered unique one at sense of key-lock system. So for potentialforger to have optical key at hand is not enough to correctly figure outdesired sets of preauthorized refraction pictures because initialposition of unique optical element relative to position and direction oflight beam inside access module are unknown for potential forger.

Readers of skill in the art will immediately recognize that differentmeans of changing initial fixed position of light source and directionof light beam and image catching array relative to unique opticalelement of inserted optical key may be configured in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

FIG.2 depicts example of optical key 1 comprising optical element 3 withunique refractive properties and body 13, were optical element 3consists of one or several transparent objects 14 of random highlyirregular shape fixed at random position to each other and to the bodyof optical key and refraction index of transparent objects differ fromrefraction index of medium. Body of optical key 13 includes protectingtransparent cover 15 of optical element 3 and means of positioningoptical key inside of access module such as rod 16 and spline 17.

Readers of skill in the art will immediately recognize that not one butmany different means may be configured to put optical element of opticalkey to access module at initial fixed and then to the set of followingprearranged position in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG.3 depicts example of access module according to the embodiment ofpresent invention. Access module 2 in this example consist of casing 18including light source 4, means 5 and 6 for positioning inserted opticalkey at initial and several following prearranged positions inside accessmodule, image catching array 8, a swing frame 7 with mounted on it lightsource 4 and image catching array 8 as means for changing initial fixedposition of light source and angle of light beam relative to inserted toaccess module optical element 3 of optical key 1, electronic processor 9and access actuator 10

It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the highly secureoptical key access control system of the invention may be provided usingsome or all of the mentioned features and components without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also beapparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above arespecific examples of a single broader invention which may have greaterscope than any of the singular descriptions taught. There may be manyalterations'made in the descriptions without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. The method of highly secure optical key accesscontrol system comprising
 1. recognizing with unique access module theoptical element with unique refraction properties used as a key bydirecting light beam through medium and optical element from severaldifferent directions, catching resulting set of unique refractionpictures with image catching array placed at some distance from opticalelement at direction of refracted light beam, process resulting set ofunique refraction pictures with electronic processor for comparisonagainst the existing database of preauthorized sets of refractionpictures in database to permit or refuse access to protected premises orprotected computer database.
 2. The method of highly secure optical keyaccess control system of claim 1 farther comprising laser light sourceas source of light beam.
 3. The method of highly secure optical keyaccess control system of claim 1 farther comprising visible-spectrumlight source as source of light beam.
 4. The method of highly secureoptical key access control system of claim 1 farther comprising infraredlight source as source of light beam.
 5. An apparatus of highly secureoptical key access control system comprising: an optical key containingan optical element with unique refraction properties; the unique accessmodule including: a source of light with function of directing lightbeam through medium and optical element ; the means of positioningoptical key at access module at several different positions fordirecting light beam from source of light through medium and opticalelement from several different directions an image capture array withfunction of catching sets of refraction pictures produced with refractedlight beam directed through medium and optical element of optical keyfrom several different directions; the means of initial adjustment offixed position of light source and image catching array relatively toposition of optical element of optical key inserted to access module atstart position to make each access module unique one at sense oflock-key system. an electronic processor with function to compare theset of refraction pictures produced with refracted light beam directedthrough medium and optical element against the existing database ofpreauthorized sets of refraction pictures in database to permit orrefuse access to protected premises or protected computer database. 6.The optical key of claim 5 containing optical element with uniquerefraction properties which consist of one or several transparentobjects of random highly irregular shape fixed at random position toeach other and to the body of optical key and refraction index oftransparent objects differ from refraction index of medium.
 7. Theaccess module of claim 5 further comprising laser light source as sourceof light beam.
 8. The access module of claim 5 further comprisingvisible-spectrum light source as source of light beam
 9. The accessmodule of claim 5 further comprising infrared light source as source oflight beam